WASHINGTON, Oct 19(ABC): Ignoring Indian objections to Pakistan’s F-16 package, the US Congress cleared a proposed foreign military sale valued at $450 million for maintenance and sustainment services of the aircraft, Geo News reported Wednesday. According to the report, Congress didn’t raise any objection to the proposed sale thus clearing the way for the US package for Pakistan which was approved last month by the …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC):  The Supreme Court Tuesday approved the federal government’s contempt of court petition against the PTI chief after he announced his long march to the capital. A five-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Banidal, will hear the case on Thursday. Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, and …

BENGALURU, Oct 18(ABC): Indian telecom service provider Reliance Jio has chosen Nokia as a major supplier, the Finnish telecom equipment maker said on Monday, as India’s biggest mobile carrier gears up to expand next-generation wireless services across the country. Nokia will supply Reliance Jio, which has more than 420 million customers, with 5G radio access network (RAN) equipment in a …

Oct 18(ABC): Microsoft announced on Monday that before the end of 2022 a fresh version of DirectStorage will be released to game developers, speeding up load times with SSDs. DirectStorage was first seen on Xbox for better and faster loading performance in games but was also launched on Windows PCs in March. Microsoft has revealed that the new DirectStorage 1.1 …

Oct 18(ABC): A new smartphone app can record heartbeat sounds, helping diagnose conditions such as heart failure, irregular heartbeat or heart murmurs. While smartwatches can measure heart rate and electrical activity, this app, Echoes, provides the first large-scale database of sound recordings connected with the personal information of the users. The app requires users to sit in a quiet setting …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said the government was privy to the PTI leadership’s, including party chairman Imran Khan’s, purported contacts with the establishment. He denied that Imran had allegedly held two meetings with the army chief. Asif added that thus far only one purported meeting had taken place between the two, further saying that the government already …

Oct 18(ABC): TikTok has announced to introduce a few new policies and features targeting only adult audience. These measures put in place to protect its users and artists and promote their well-being are continually being improved, TikTok explained in a news release. As a result, starting on November 23, 2022, users must be 18 years old to broadcast a live stream …

Oct 18(ABC): Apple is reportedly working on its new VR/AR headset which would feature iris recognition technology for logins and payments. According to The Information, the eye-scanning technology would use several cameras¬ – similar to iOS features like touch ID or face ID. Additionally, it would aid in setting Apple’s product apart from its major rival, the Meta Quest Pro, …

Oct 18(ABC): South Korea intents to capitalise on blockchain technology by introducing digital identity cards as the country sways through the post-COVID-19 period of remote work and online processes. According to Bloomberg, the government will empower citizens to validate their identity via digital IDs stored and programmed into their smartphones, replacing Korea’s national ID cards by 2024. The report comes …

Oct 18(ABC): Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) YouTube will expand ways for advertisers to reach music and podcast listeners and viewers on connected televisions, the company said on Monday. The announcements come as the advertising industry has struggled amid record-high inflation and supply-chain disruptions, which have caused some brands to pull back on marketing budgets. That has led advertisers to become “laser-focused” …

BERLIN, Oct 18(ABC): Tesla (TSLA.O) will not start mass production of battery cells at its European gigafactory near Berlin before 2024, German business daily Handelsblatt reported on Friday, citing experts, two of whom are close to the company. According to the report, problems have been discovered with an important production process presented by Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk two years …

RAWALPINDI, Oct 18(ABC): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday admitted to weakness within his government and said that he will never accept a weak government again. These views were expressed by the PTI chief [Imran Khan] while meeting the delegation of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and National Press Club Islamabad. During the meeting, the former premier …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed that a list of corrupt officers be compiled in electricity distribution companies and officers of good reputation be appointed in their place so that efficiency can be improved. The federal cabinet in its meeting chaired by PM Shehbaz Sharif approved, in principle, the expansion of the current installation of advance …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial, while hearing the petition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, said on Tuesday that every responsible person should be held accountable. A three-member bench of the SC, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, comprising Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, heard the PTI s petition …

KHARAN, Oct 18(ABC): The Pakistan Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Tuesday gunned down four terrorists in Balochistan’s Kharan district. According CTD officials, the security forces acted on a tip-off in the lower forest area of Kharan, during which there was an exchange of fire between the security forces and the alleged terrorists, as a result of which four alleged terrorists were …

TAIPEI, Oct 18(ABC): Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn unveiled two more electric vehicle prototypes on Tuesday, including a pickup truck, saying commercial production on two other designs would start later this year. The world’s largest contract electronics maker, Foxconn already plays a lynchpin role in assembling gadgets for a host of top international brands including Apple’s iPhone. The company has moved …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): In the wake of statements made against the Kingdom in the context of the OPEC+ decision, Pakistan Tuesday expressed solidarity with the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “We appreciate the concerns of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for avoiding market volatility and ensuring global economic stability,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. It added …

RAWALPINDI, Oct 18(ABC): After Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad challenged a notice asking him to vacate his residence of Lal Haveli, a district and sessions court in Rawalpindi Tuesday issued a stay order to the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), directing it to temporarily stop the eviction of the structure. The board, on October 16, issued directives to …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday disposed of a contempt of court petition against PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan for his statement about state institutions. During the hearing, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that if Pakistan Bar Council or any other bar did have doubts about this court’s impartiality, then why should the court should pay attention to …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC):  State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik on Tuesday raised questions on a trailer being shared on social media of a documentary that zooms in on the culture of graft in Pakistan while implicating the Sharif family in big-ticket financial improprieties during their successive governments. The trailer seems the prologue of a documentary titled “Behind Closed Doors” on …

RAWALPINDI, Oct 18(ABC): Pakistan Army commanders on Tuesday reposed full confidence in the country’s robust nuclear command and control structure and security arrangements related to strategic assets, the military’s media wing said in a statement after the 252nd Corps Commanders’ Conference held at GHQ. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa presided over the conference. The military top …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): A citizen has approached the Supreme Court to seek the return of PTI lawmakers, including PTI Chairman Imran Khan, to the National Assembly. Engineer Qazi Muhammad Saleem filed the petition in the Supreme Court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, making the federation, the speaker and National Assembly secretary as respondents. The petitioner has argued that the …

Oct 18(ABC):Karachi local bodies polls postponed again Elections were scheduled on seven districts Oct ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday announced the postponement of the local bodies election in Karachi scheduled for October 23, saying that it will review the situation again after 15 days. The decision was taken by ECP today after the Sindh government informed the body …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): The Supreme Court on Tuesday acquitted death row inmate Shahrukh Jatoi — the main accused in the high profile Shahzeb Khan murder case. The other convicts in the case were also acquitted. Shahzeb, 20, was shot dead on the night between December 24 and 25 in 2012 in a posh locality of Karachi. An Anti-Terrorism Court in …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Tuesday said that backdoor talks have always failed, a day after PTI Chairman Imran Khan conceded that backchannel is open. Taking to Twitter, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said, “backdoor talks have always failed” without sharing further details in this regard or referring to Imran Khan’s comments he made while speaking at a …

KARACHI, Oct 18(ABC): PTI has challenged the victory of PPP’s Abdul Hakeem Baloch in the NA-237 by-election in the Sindh High Court (SHC). The petition was filed by PTI leader Ali Zaidi via his lawyer Dr Shahab Imam and has named the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Sindh government and the winning candidate Baloch as the respondents. The PTI has …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): President Dr Arif Alvi, on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, filed a reference in the Supreme Court in the Reko Diq case on Tuesday. The reference will seek the opinion of the apex court on the settlement agreement on Reko Diq. Earlier, the federal cabinet approved sending a presidential reference on the Reko Diq case to the …

Oct 18(ABC): State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar is in Paris to attend a meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF),  reported. The minister led the Pakistani delegation to Paris, where they met the President of the Foreign Affairs Commission at the French National Assembly, Jean-Louis Bourlanges on Monday. Pak-France bilateral relations, parliamentary cooperation, floods in Pakistan, …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday asked the Punjab government to legislate on the local bodies within seven days or else it will hold polls based on the previous law. The orders were issued in a hearing held on the local bodies election in Punjab by a three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (ABC): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the authorities concerned to immediately remove all hurdles in the way of pending projects related to the Saudi Fund for Development (SDF). He gave this direction during the meeting here with a delegation of Saudi Development Fund, which was led by the its Director General of Asia Operations …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (ABC):Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal Monday informed the National Assembly that Pakistan would organize donors’ conference soon after the completion of estimate damage caused by the flood across the country. Winding up debate on a motion under Rule 259 regarding situation arising out of the country after flood, the Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (ABC): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb Monday said PTI chief Imran Khan had no comparison with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, who had appointed six army chiefs while holding the country’s chief executive office thrice. “Imran Khan says Nawaz Sharif cannot appoint the army chief in total contrast to the fact that the …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (ABC): Minister for Energy Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan on Monday asked the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI)  Chairman Imran Khan to avoid spending billions of rupees on his party campaigns and public meetings.  The people were facing multiple challenges due to recent floods in the country, he said while talking to a private television channel.  He said …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17(ABC): By-elections held in eight National Assembly and three Punjab Assembly constituencies on Sunday witnessed low voter turnout and election code violations, a report said Monday. “With only 35% of the registered voters turning out on election day, […] constituencies remained peaceful with scattered instances of irregularities,” Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) said in a report. The report …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17(ABC): The 13-party alliance of the government in a joint statement on Monday categorically rejected former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s demand for early elections and said that other appointments including the army chief are the authority of the prime minister. The joint statement stated that the allied parties will decide regarding next general …

KARACHI, Oct 17 (ABC): Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has paid rich tribute to the martyrs of Karsaz tragedy. In his message issued on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Karsaz tragedy, the PPP Chairman said that today reminds us the sacrifices of the leadership and workers of Party during the struggle …

RAWALPINDI, Oct 17(ABC): The Ambassador of Norway to Pakistan Per Albert Ilsaas Monday called on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa here at the General Headquarters and expressed his grief over the devastation caused by floods in Pakistan. According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during the meeting, matters of mutual interest …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17(ABC): Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Monday warned PTI chief Imran Khan that the government will respond with “full force” if he announces a long march and enters the federal capital. Speaking during a press conference in Islamabad, the interior minister said that Khan has started the culture of bringing huge crowds out on the streets, but the government knows …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17(ABC):  PTI Chairman Imran Khan said Monday that his party’s anti-government “Azadi March” would not be delayed past October as they have completed their preparations. In a press conference, the PTI chairman said: “My march will be held in October if the government does not announce the date for the next general election.” The PTI chief warned the …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed urgent steps for discharge of water from the flood-hit areas to prevent outbreak of water-borne diseases. The prime minister issued the instructions during his day-long visit to the flood-hit areas of Sohbatpur and Khuzdar districts to review the arrangements of relief and rehabilitation. PM Shehbaz proposed taking on board …